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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first thought when I listened and read the dialogue regarding the character Shylock was...even Shakespeare was anti-Semitic, where does it all begin and when will it end? I'm still somewhat vexed at Billy with his treatment of my beloved King Richard III and now he's bashing the Jews. Be that as it may, primarily he's playing to a Tudor court and knows on which side his bread is buttered. The play for the most part is very entertaining. I listened to a library borrowed audio recording, while I followed the lines, that is until the recording apparently was either abridged or a director thinking it would play out better moving this scene before that or omitting some lines altogether, so ended up with just the reading. The more of Shakespeare's plays I read the better I am come to understand them, they are entertaining and a glimpse of the past.
1-24-25 Almost 10 years later and I am revisiting Shylock who lends money and wants a pound of flesh if not paid in time. I read and listened to the Audible version by Argo Classics of this play performed by the Marlowe Professional Players and it was enjoyable.
1-24-25 Almost 10 years later and I am revisiting Shylock who lends money and wants a pound of flesh if not paid in time. I read and listened to the Audible version by Argo Classics of this play performed by the Marlowe Professional Players and it was enjoyable.
read for school, but this is not something for me unfortunately
I would recommend this as a book for people who want to read more Shakespeare other than what they studied in school. It has a lot of interesting themes and characters, which is more than can be said for some of his other works.
This rating is for the Bantam edition of Henry VI Parts One, Two, and Three, not The Merchant of Venice. StoryGraph seems to have conflated these titles.
Weaker work from Shakespeare. Still very good but he's done so much better. Also not all that funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
literally every character is awful and the sheer amount of antisemitism and racism makes it nigh unreadable. nothing about this play is good.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Antonio and Bassanio are GAYYYYYYYYY
One of my favorite Shakespeare plays - it helps that I had an amazing professor teach this play!